Cockatiel

Julie Rach Mancini

Description

The authoritative information and advice you need, illustrated throughout with full-color photographs—now revised and redesigned to be even more reader-friendly!
With a chirpy "voice" and quirky personality, the cockatiel is the most popular companion bird. Cockatiels are not big talkers, but most can whistle. This fun guide will help you from the initial "get acquainted" period throughout your bird's life with information on:

• Selecting a healthy bird
• Setting up a healthy and stimulating home
• Feeding, grooming, and veterinary care
• The unique behaviors of cockatiels
• Getting small children and cockatiels to coexist peacefully
• Teaching your bird to do tricks

With their amusing antics, cockatiels provide live entertainment and a welcome release from everyday stress. You provide proper care, and they'll provide great companionship for years!
Part I: The World of the Cockatiel.

Chapter 1: What Is a Cockatiel?

Cockatiel Basics.

Why Choose a Bird?

Cockatiels and Children.

Chapter 2: The Cockatiel’s History.

The Cockatiel’s Background.

How the Cockatiel Got Her Name.

Chapter 3: Choosing Your Cockatiel.

Where to Get Your Cockatiel.

Selecting Your Cockatiel.

Signs of Good Health.

Bringing Your Cockatiel Home.

Part II: Caring for Your Cockatiel.

Chapter 4: Home Sweet Home.

Choosing a Cage.

What to Put in the Cage Tray.

Location, Location.

Setting up the Cage.

More to Buy.

Chapter 5: Everyday Care.

Be Alert to Health Problems.

Cleaning the Cage.

Seasonal Needs.

Household Hazards.

Nasty Fumes.

Other Pets.

Chapter 6: Feeding Your Cockatiel.

Nutrition Requirements.

Water.

Foods to Avoid.

What About Grit?

The Pelleted Diet Option.

Chapter 7: Grooming Your Cockatiel.

Bathing.

Nail Care.

Wing Trimming.

Molting.

Wing Trimming Step by Step.

If Your Bird Escapes.

Are Mite Protectors Necessary?

Chapter 8: Keeping Your Cockatiel Healthy.

Avian Anatomy.

Feathers.

Avian Senses.

Cockatiel Health Care.

Cockatiel Health Concerns.

Signs of Illness.

Cockatiel First Aid.

Your Cockatiel’s First Aid Kit.

Can You Catch Avian Flu from Your Bird?

Medicating Your Cockatiel.

Caring for Older Birds.

Part III: Enjoying Your Cockatiel.

Chapter 9: Understanding Your Cockatiel.

Common Cockatiel Behaviors.

Learn to Read a Cockatiel’s Crest.

Stress.

Chapter 10: Having Fun with Your Cockatiel.

Taming Your Cockatiel.

Toilet Training.

Naughty Cockatiels.

Will My Cockatiel Talk?

The Trick to Training.

Tricks to Teach Your Cockatiel.

Traveling with Your Bird.

Appendix: Learning More About Your Cockatiel.

Some Good Books.

Magazines.

Online Resources.

Index.

Sujets

• Birds
• Pets
• Cockatiel
• Calopsitte élégante

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 05 mai 2008
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780470362716
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Your Happy Healthy Pet

Cockatiel
2nd Edition
Julie Rach Mancini
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Copyright 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. All rights reserved.
Howell Book House
Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax [phone], or on the web at www.copyright.com . Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Legal Department, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 10475 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46256, [phone], fax [phone], or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions .
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Mancini, Julie R. (Julie Rach)
Cockatiel / Julie Rach Mancini. 2nd ed.
p. cm. -- (Your happy healthy pet)
ISBN-13: 978-0-471-74824-3 (cloth : alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-471-74824-2 (cloth : alk. paper)
1. Cockatiel. I. Title. II. Series.
SF473.C6R33 2006
636.6 8656 dc22
2005024167
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
2nd Edition
Book design by Melissa Auciello-Brogan
Cover design by Michael J. Freeland
Book production by Wiley Publishing, Inc. Composition Services
About the Author
Birds have been an important part of Julie Rach Mancini s life ever since her father built a window shelf to feed pigeons as mealtime entertainment for her when she was a toddler. Her parents got her first bird, a parakeet named Charlie, when she was six, and she kept a special African grey parrot named Sindbad for more than ten years. Professionally, her interest in birds began to combine with her love of writing when the editors of Pet Health News asked her to write about bird health in 1988. She assisted in the preparation of the first issue of Birds USA , a successful annual publication aimed at the first-time pet bird owner, and became managing editor, then editor, of Bird Talk in 1992. Julie has been a free-lance writer since 1997, with pets as her primary focus.
About Howell Book House
Since 1961, Howell Book House has been America s premier publisher of pet books. We re dedicated to companion animals and the people who love them, and our books reflect that commitment. Our stable of authors-training experts, veterinarians, breeders, and other authorities-is second to none. And we ve won more Maxwell Awards from the Dog Writers Association of America than any other publisher.
As we head toward the half-century mark, we re more committed than ever to providing new and innovative books, along with the classics our readers have grown to love. This year, we re launching several exciting new initiatives, including redesigning the Howell Book House logo and revamping our biggest pet series, Your Happy Healthy Pet TM , with bold new covers and updated content. From bringing home a new puppy to competing in advanced equestrian events, Howell has the titles that keep animal lovers coming back again and again.
Contents
Part I: The World of the Cockatiel
Chapter 1: What Is a Cockatiel?
Cockatiel Basics
Why Choose a Bird?
Cockatiels and Children
Chapter 2: The Cockatiel s History
The Cockatiel s Background
How the Cockatiel Got Her Name
Chapter 3: Choosing Your Cockatiel
Where to Get Your Cockatiel
Selecting Your Cockatiel
Signs of Good Health
Bringing Your Cockatiel Home
Part II: Caring for Your Cockatiel
Chapter 4: Home Sweet Home
Choosing a Cage
What to Put in the Cage Tray
Location, Location
Setting up the Cage
More to Buy
Chapter 5: Everyday Care
Be Alert to Health Problems
Cleaning the Cage
Seasonal Needs
Household Hazards
Nasty Fumes
Other Pets
Chapter 6: Feeding Your Cockatiel
Nutrition Requirements
Water
Foods to Avoid
What About Grit?
The Pelleted Diet Option
Chapter 7: Grooming Your Cockatiel
Bathing
Nail Care
Wing Trimming
Molting
Wing Trimming Step by Step
If Your Bird Escapes
Are Mite Protectors Necessary?
Chapter 8: Keeping Your Cockatiel Healthy
Avian Anatomy
Feathers
Avian Senses
Cockatiel Health Care
Cockatiel Health Concerns
Signs of Illness
Cockatiel First Aid
Your Cockatiel s First Aid Kit
Can You Catch Avian Flu from Your Bird?
Medicating Your Cockatiel
Caring for Older Birds
Part III: Enjoying Your Cockatiel
Chapter 9: Understanding Your Cockatiel
Common Cockatiel Behaviors
Learn to Read a Cockatiel s Crest
Stress
Chapter 10: Having Fun with Your Cockatiel
Taming Your Cockatiel
Toilet Training
Naughty Cockatiels
Will My Cockatiel Talk?
The Trick to Training
Tricks to Teach Your Cockatiel
Traveling with Your Bird
Appendix: Learning More About Your Cockatiel
Some Good Books
Magazines
Online Resources
Index
Shopping List
You ll need to do a bit of stocking up before you bring your new bird home. Below is a basic list of some must-have supplies. For more detailed information on the selection of each item below, consult chapter 4 . For specific guidance on what grooming tools you ll need, review chapter 7 .
Cage
Open food and water bowls (at least two sets of each for easier dish changing and cage cleaning)
Perches of various diameters and materials
Sturdy scrub brush to clean the perches
Food (a good quality fresh seed mixture or a formulated diet, such as pellets or crumbles)
Millet spray (most cockatiels love this treat!)
Powdered vitamin and mineral supplement to sprinkle on your pet s fresh foods
A variety of safe, fun toys
Cage cover (an old sheet or towel with no holes or ravels will serve this purpose nicely)
Playgym (to give your cockatiel time out of his cage and a place to exercise)
There are likely to be a few other items that you re dying to pick up before bringing your bird home. Use the following blanks to note any additional items you ll be shopping for.
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Pet Sitter s Guide
We can be reached at (___)_____-________ Cellphone (___)_____-_______
_____________________________________________________________
We will return on ____________ (date) at ____________ (approximate time)
Bird s Name ____________________________________________________
Species, Age, and Sex ____________________________________________
Important Names and Numbers
Vet s Name ____________________________ Phone (___)_____-________
Address_______________________________________________________
Emergency Vet s Name ____________________ Phone (___)_____-_______
Address_______________________________________________________
Poison Control ____________________________________ (or call vet first)
Other individual to contact in case of emergency ______________________
_____________________________________________________________
Care Instructions
In the first three blanks let the sitter know what to feed, how much, and when; when to give treats; and when and how to exercise the bird.
Morning _________________________________________________